Thursday 1 June 2023

Sulphur Clover

Sulphur Clover Trifolium ochroleucon, Indre et Loire, France. Photo by Loire Valley Time Travel.

 

Sulphur Clover Trifolium ochroleucon (Fr. Trèfle jaunâtre) is a plant with pale yellow flowers in the clover and pea family. If you are in lowland France, as we are, it is unmistakable, but if you are in the mountains it could be confused with T. montanum

Sulphur Clover Trifolium ochroleucon, Indre et Loire, France. Photo by Loire Valley Time Travel.

 

Quite common in southern Europe, but uncommon in the north, including here in the Touraine Loire Valley, it grows up to an altitude of 2000 metres above sea level. It favours poor calcareous clay soils, in full sun. You will mostly encounter it in meadows, and on the side of roads or tracks. In Indre et Loire it is a determinant species for declaring a Zone Naturelle d'Interet Ecologique, Faunistique et Floristique (ZNIEFF).

Sulphur Clover Trifolium ochroleucon, Indre et Loire, France. Photo by Loire Valley Time Travel.

It is pollinated by insects and the seeds dispersed by grazing animals.

Sulphur Clover Trifolium ochroleucon, Indre et Loire, France. Photo by Loire Valley Time Travel.

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